Delegates From 14 Nations To Attend Conference
Bermuda will host the 17th Biennial Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks of the Caribbean, The Americas and The North Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from October 25th to 29th, 2015.
Delegates from fourteen Caribbean countries will arrive in Bermuda on October 25th for the conference.
This year’s theme is “The Relevance of Parliament in Today’s Society” and includes plenary sessions on topics such as: “Is Adversarial Politics Sustainable in Small Islands: Implementing successful strategies in managing contentious House debates and the importance of fostering relationships and cooperation with each other.” and “Does Social Media Have a Place Both Inside and Outside the Chamber: Promoting youth engagement and interaction with civil society organisations.” The sessions will be conducted in the Blue Room at The Bermuda College.
In addition to Bermuda, delegates will represent: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis Island, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Bermuda’s Speaker of the House of Assembly and the CPA Bermuda Branch Joint Chairman, Randolph Horton,stated, “Bermuda is very pleased to host this year’s conference.
“The Acting President of the Senate and Acting Joint Chair of the CPA Bermuda Branch, Senator Joan Dillas-Wright, MBE, JP and I, together with our Parliamentary colleagues, look forward to welcoming Speakers, Senate Presidents and Clerks to Bermuda.
“During the Opening Ceremony, which will be held in the House of Assembly Chamber on Monday morning starting at 10:00am, there will be welcoming remarks from myself as Speaker; the Premier, the Hon. Michael Dunkley, JP, MP; Opposition Leader, the Hon. Marc Bean, JP, MP and His Excellency The Governor, Mr. George Fergusson. Senator Dillas-Wright will give the vote of thanks.”
Senator Joan Dillas-Wright added, “In the weeks leading up to the start of the conference, The Speaker and I have visited Bermuda’s senior secondary schools and shared with students the role of the Speaker and Clerk and provided details of the role of the House of Assembly and the Senate. We encouraged students to participate in Youth Parliament which provides an avenue to our young people to understand and experience the parliamentary process.”
Speaker Horton concluded, “This is the first time Bermuda’s legislature will host this particular conference. We have, in the past, hosted other regional parliamentary conferences and meetings. I anticipate the delegates will have meaningful discussions, exchange ideas and leave with a renewed commitment to ensuring that the parliamentary process in each of our jurisdictions remains rigorous.”
Let’s ask them what they think of our airport????
With the following representatives of Bermuda along with the numerous others, delegates from many Caribbean countries I do believe it’ll be a successful Conference.
Do take note that the opening Ceremony, will be held in the House of Assembly Chamber on Monday morning starting at 10:00a.m. There will be welcoming remarks from Speaker Hon. Randolph Horton, the Premier, the Hon. Michael Dunkley, J.P. M.P. Opposition Leader, the Hon. Marc Bean, J.P. M.P. and His Excellency The Governor, Mr. George Fergusson. Senator Dillas-Wright will give the vote of thanks.